I, Olga Hepnarova

Greetings again from the darkness. Most youngsters have executed a perfect eye roll on at least one occasion after receiving a dose of parental advice that seemed irrelevant to them at the time. An early scene in this biopic finds teenage Olga listening as her mother says, "To commit suicide you need a strong will, my child. Something you certainly don't have. Accept it." This is a warning shot fired at the audience to be cautious when judging the actions of the last woman executed in Czechoslovakia.

Co-directors Petr Kazda and Tomas Weinred seem to believe that most viewers will be familiar with Olga's story, and presume the film's austere look, lack of flow, and structure of seemingly unrelated scenes will provide a sense of the choppiness and isolation that might explain her otherwise inexplicable actions. Based on Olga's true story and the book from Roman Cilek, the film will have you questioning whether her behavior was the result of horrible parenting, or more closely related to her psychological issues – perhaps even schizophrenia.

Michalina Olszamska (The Lure) delivers a committed performance as Olga, the 22 year old woman who in 1972 drove a truck into a group of people in Prague, killing 8 (all between the ages of 60 and 79). A year later she was hanged, becoming the last woman executed in Czechoslovachia.

The movie focuses on the various elements and key moments of her life – father's abuse, mother's iciness, attempted suicide, treatment in asylum, rejection by a lover – that led to her isolation and feelings of alienation. We sense her internal rage building over time, and her inability to cope or even connect with others; though at times we question whether her troubles are by choice or a result of her treatment … it's kind of a twist on the nature vs. nurture debate.

There have been other fine movies that have dealt with a similar theme: There's Something About Kevin, The Omen, The Bad Seed. Each of these deal with the whole good vs evil idea … are some kids born "bad" or are they pushed that way? Either way, it's a parent's worst nightmare. This black and white presentation allows us to keep our emotional distance from Olga, and the no frills approach provides a quite chilling reenactment of how Olga ended up sending a letter to the local newspaper announcing her intention to seek "revenge" for the hatred that society had heaped upon her for years.

Tackling a very difficult subject in a rigid social environment like communist Czechoslovakia in the 70's, this film has done it great!

The female lead -the very young Polish actress Michalina Olszanska is doing the impossible while portraying an extremely complex character that no-one would otherwise understand or empathize.

The cinematic recreation of the atmosphere of Prague in the early 70's is so true, that this this black & white film looks like it was really shot in the Seventies. Only the stable digital image suggests else.

I do recommend this movie to all sensitive viewers who wish to look deeper in to the human and social issues.

The movie plunges us into a world of nihilism, where the darkness of the human psyche reigns supreme. It is a portrait of a young woman who is disillusioned with society and driven to commit a heinous crime. The movie explores the depths of human despair and the impact of social isolation on the individual psyche.

Director Tomas Weinreb and Petr Kazda don't shy away from the darkness that engulfs Olga's world. They craft a bleak and unrelenting atmosphere, one that is suffused with a sense of futility and despair. The cinematography is austere and bleak, reflecting the emotional landscape of the protagonist.

The movie presents a provocative challenge to the viewer's values and beliefs. It forces us to confront the darker aspects of the human condition and consider the ways in which society fails to address the needs of its most vulnerable members. It is a stark reminder that the human psyche is a fragile and complex thing, one that can be pushed to the brink of madness under the right conditions.

In movie, Weinreb and Kazda have created a chilling portrait of a young woman who is pushed to the edge by a society that refuses to accept her. It is a powerful reminder of the need for compassion, empathy, and understanding in a world that can be so cold and unforgiving.

Olga Hepnarova was the last woman to be executed in the Czech Republic and for mass murder, no less so don't expect a barrel of laughs. Shot in chilly black and white, (more a wintry gray, in fact), Petr Kazda and Tomas Weinreb's film is a depressing study of a psychotic personality. In the title role Michalina Olszanska doesn't so much act as exists and barely at that. Although she never off the screen it's as if she's been vaporized, living in a shadow where the real person should be. I suppose in some respects the film falls into much the same category as "The Honeymoon Killers" or "Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer" but they were lively, jolly affairs compared to this. With its strong lesbian element perhaps a more fitting comparison would be with "Monster" in which Charlize Theron played Aileen Wuornos. Worth seeing but grim.

Very good psychological drama held in Czekoslovachia. Despite show, it has a quite good pace. Direction, black and white cinematography, acting (particularly cute Michalina Olszanska)... everything is good.